A £9 million initiative to provide a range of employment schemes to help young people get a job has been unveiled by the North’s Minister of Employment and Learning, Dr Stephen Farry.

Dr Farry said his department would fund 18 projects to help 5,000 young people who were not in education, in employment or in training.

“These projects will open doors for our young people to move into college, apprenticeships or jobs and represent the key quality interventions necessary to combat the untapped potential of these young people.

“Most importantly,” Dr Farry added, “the projects will improve their employability by equipping them with the necessary skills for employment.”